Although LeBron has a cavalier presence these days, a few years back he felt he could deal with intense criticism for leaving Cleveland. In fact, he clearly demonstrated he’d take the ____.

Rumour has it that ace pitcher Tim Lincecum sometimes napped on his off-days in the bullpen. To avoid his wrath, teammates knew better than to ever wake the sleeping ____.

Trading Abdul-Jabbar to Los Angeles in 1975 was clearly a choice to pass the ____.

Had he missed his Super Bowl XXV kick intentionally due to a bribe, Scott Norwood might have secretly told the Giants he would ____ them later.

As his team’s career leader in assists since joining them in 2005, Joe Thornton has been the center of a ____ feeding frenzy.

Surely Matthew Stafford must have felt that joining a team fresh on the heels of their 0-16 season, was like walking into the ____'s den.

Willis Reed's heroic appearance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA playoffs was just in the ____ of time.

The story goes that when retired linebacker Ray Lewis was asked if he might change his mind and play again, quoth the ____ 'Nevermore.'

Barely 3 seconds had elapsed in his team's March 19, 2012 game, before Ranger Stu Bickel took off the gloves and started pounding Ryan Carter. As to what prompted him to 'earn' his game misconduct penalty, he could have said 'The ____ made me do it.'

Given how protective his team is of his throwing arm, Stephen Strasburg could be considered a ____ treasure.

Even though planned in advance, the selections of Robinson and Duncan as #1 NBA draft picks were ____ of the moment decisions.

At the start of the '07 Stanley Cup finals, Ottawa recognized that their opponent was well-organized, even as the National Anthem played: Looking at the blue line they saw that they certainly had their ____ in a row.

Trying to tackle running back Lawrence McCutcheon in 1977, when he came at you helmet-first, was like trying to stop a battering ____.

While contemplating the value of acquiring veterans Pierce and Garnett from the Celtics by trade, ownership had to consider their ____ worth.

It's rumoured that on January 16, 2013, when new NFL head coach Chip Kelly touched down at the airport in owner Jeffrey Lurie's private jet, the pilot announced 'The _____ has landed.'

Though he never played a single moment for the team, their controversial and outspoken owner Mark Cuban clearly considered himself to be a ____.

During a 2011 NHL game, the last things Dallas forward Loui Eriksson saw before being hit hard in the head, were a couple of his teammates. As they gathered around him afterwards, he was still seeing ____.

Shaq first setting foot on his home court in 1992 was obviously a ____ moment.

After arriving in Chicago for their series against the White Sox, players discovered they'd been 'pranked' and given undersized mattresses in their hotel rooms. Said the later-chastised clerk 'I figured those guys wanted ____ beds.'

On the ice for just 3 minutes in the only game he ever played in the NHL, goalie Mathieu Chouinard stopped the only two shots he faced, making him feel like a ____ for a day.

By acquiring the flamboyant Pete Maravich from Atlanta, the expansion team hoped to ____ things up a bit.

When asked why he thought Namath was using illegal equipment during his team's 1969 victory in Super Bowl III, the Colts' player responded 'I guarantee it - his passes were all ____-propelled.'

He was once the American League batting champion, but Willie Wilson's career was hampered by a 1983 conviction related to his cocaine use, and his ____ highness.

Back in 1985, an opponent tackled one of Coach Ditka's receivers by grabbing him above the wrist and flinging him to the ground. When the coach complained, the Ref shrugged, and said 'He has a right to ____ arms.'

Utah players might have had a better chance to beat Jordan in their 1998 Finals rematch, by distracting him with conversation, but stopping short of shooting the ____.